Pinfish across North Carolina
Finding and keeping pinfish, by North Carolina rules.
- no creel limitdaily creel
- 2 lb. 14 oz.record
Photo of the species, not of a North Carolina water: lightbed, CC0 1.0
Where pinfish fit in North Carolina
Pinfish lives in North Carolina’s saltwater habitat. NCDMF sets a creel of no creel limit with no size limit where coastal and joint fishing waters.
The state record is 2 lb. 14 oz., taken at Off Beaufort Inlet in 2006. NCDMF citation: No award given for this species.
How NCDMF describes pinfish
“A small fish with an oval body, small mouth, incisor-like teeth and sharp dorsal spines. The body is silvery with yellow and blue horizontal stripes and four or five vertical lines. There is a black spot behind the gill cover. The pectoral and caudal fins are yellow. The dorsal fin is blue and yellow striped.”
- SizePinfish grow to 8 inches, but common catches range between 2 inches and 4 inches.
- HabitatPinfish are found around pilings, rocks and vegetated areas in shallow waters from Cape Cod, Mass., to Yucatan, Mexico, including the Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda and the northern coast of Cuba.
- DietPinfish eat shrimp, fish eggs, insect larvae, worms, amphipods and plants. Smaller food is swallowed whole while larger food is nibbled into pieces.
- Fishing tipsAnglers catch pinfish from piers, docks, bridges and small boats, using two-hook bottom fishing rigs baited with shrimp, squid or bloodworms. Pinfish are notorious bait stealers and are often used as live bait by anglers fishing for larger fish.
- Also calledsea bream, pin perch, sand perch
- Confused withspot, pigfish
Quoted from the NCDMF species profile, checked October 2026.
Creel limits for pinfish
| Agency | Where | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCDMF | Coastal and joint fishing waters | no creel limit | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
NCWRC 2026-27 digest and NCDMF proclamations. All North Carolina limits.
North Carolina record pinfish
| Category | Weight | Where | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| all tackle by weight | 2 lb. 14 oz. | Off Beaufort Inlet | 2006 |
NCWRC and NCDMF state records. Angler names left out.
Species that pair with pinfish
- Red drumsalt
- Spotted seatroutsalt
- Southern floundersalt
- Summer floundersalt
- Gulf floundersalt
- Weakfishsalt
- Black drumsalt
- Sheepsheadsalt
- Atlantic croakersalt
- Spotsalt
- Kingfishessalt
- Bluefishsalt
- Cobiasalt
- King mackerelsalt
Places to fish near Pinfish, pictured
Photo: Brian Stansberry (photographer), CC BY 4.0
Photo: Gerry Dincher from Hope Mills, NC, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Bigbird78, CC BY-SA 3.0
Worth knowing about pinfish
Which rules govern keeping pinfish?
no creel limit (Coastal and joint fishing waters), size no size limit.
Which water gave up the record pinfish?
2 lb. 14 oz. from Off Beaufort Inlet (2006).
Which waters produce pinfish?
Pinfish are found around pilings, rocks and vegetated areas in shallow waters from Cape Cod, Mass., to Yucatan, Mexico, including the Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda and the northern coast of Cuba.
Does NCWRC stock pinfish?
Not on this year’s list.
How do I tell pinfish apart?
Pinfish grow to 8 inches, but common catches range between 2 inches and 4 inches.
Can pinfish be kept this month?
open all year unless closed by proclamation
What license do pinfish anglers buy?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
Which captains list pinfish?
None list it by name; see the guides page.
Seek out pinfish
Pick a water from the lists on this page.